What is a Governing Body?

Governors are the strategic leaders within schools and have the responsibility of promoting high standards of educational achievement, ensuring every child in their school receives the best quality education. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, and ultimately to represent the school community. Whilst the Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governing body has three core functions.

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the head to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The Ewhurst C of E Infant School Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff, Local Authority and Diocese of Guildford. As a Voluntary Aided school, Ewhurst C of E Infant School is also responsible for raising 10% towards any capital spending on our school.

Who are we?

The Ewhurst C of E Infant School Governing Body, chaired by Ariela Fish, includes parents, staff and representatives from the local community including the local Parish. We are all dedicated, enthused individuals driven by our purpose to ensure the children receive the very best education and inspirational opportunities to achieve their full potential to be happy, well rounded children with a love for learning. All governor roles are voluntary (unpaid).  The complete list of current Governors can be found below including their roles and responsibilities.

Our Governing Body is made up of 12 members and is comprised of several different types of governors, who join as one of the following:

• The Head Teacher
• Foundation governors – appointed by the Parochial Church Council and Diocese
• Parent governors – elected by the parents and carers of pupils at the school
• Local Authority governor – appointed by Surrey County Council
• Staff governor – elected by the staff themselves
• Co-opted governor – appointed by the Governing Body

If you are interested in being a school governor and would like to know more, please contact the Chairs of Governors for an informal chat by emailing info@ewhurst.surrey.sch.uk 

How do we work?

Formal discussion and decisions normally take place during pre-arrange full governor meetings.  Typically, these take place once a term, although sometimes more meetings are scheduled depending on the need. We also have sub-committee meetings that take place at least once a term. The two committees are the Effectiveness Committee; looking at educational standards, SEND, pupil premium and safeguarding. The Efficiency Committee; looking at Health and Safety, buildings, pay and finance.

We have Link class governors who visit specific class through the year as well as subject lead governors. Learning walks and visits to school are encouraged. We are a supportive team, with a hands-on approach, proactively helping the school when we can.

Our governor meetings follow an Open Meeting protocol. Please view the Open meeting protocol information below if you would like to attend any of the governor meetings.

Open Governing Body meeting protocol 2024

Our Current Governors

Chair: Mrs A Fish

Vice Co-Chairs: Mrs C Barber, Dr D Hogg

Local Authority Governor: Dr D Hogg

Executive Head Teacher: Mr T Cheesman

Staff Governor: Miss V Allan

Foundation (PCC) Governors: Mr P Gunner, 2 vacant

Foundation (Ex-Officio Governor): vacant

Foundation (Diocesan) Governors: Mrs C Barber, Mrs A Fish, 1 vacant

Parent Governors: Mr M Simpson, 1 vacant

Safeguarding Governor: Mr M Simpson

SEND Governor: Mrs C Barber

Clerk: Mrs Lorna Harnby

The Clerk can be reached by emailing clerk@ewhurst.surrey.sch.uk

The upcoming open Governing Body meetings will be Wednesday 26 March 2024, Wednesday 7 May 2025 and Wednesday 25 June 2025 – all at 6.30pm 

Meet our Governing Body

Ariela Fish - Chair of Governors 

Ariela lives in Ewhurst with her family. Two of her children attend Ewhurst C of E Infant School. Ariela was very excited to join the Governing Body as a parent governor and the governor for safeguarding in September 2021. With a background in psychology and law, Ariela is eager to lend her skills in support of our wonderful school.

Clare Barber Vice Co-Chair

Clare joined the Governing Body in October 2020. She is currently Assistant Head of Notre Dame Catholic Prep School in Cobham, where she has worked for over 10 years. Clare has close links with Ewhurst Infant School as both her children, Jess and Harry went through the school and she was Chair of the PTA for two years. Jess is now at Cardiff University studying Psychology and Harry is in Year 13 at St Peter's Catholic School in Guildford.  
Previously, before she re-trained as a teacher at Chichester University, Clare worked as a Senior Brand Manager for Unilever, launching and promoting new products and gaining various qualifications in marketing and communication.
She enjoys walking her two springer spaniels, Milo and Poppy, has a passion for music and enjoys socialising. Friends, family and community are all very important to her.

Dan Hogg Vice Co-Chair

Dan started as a governor at Ewhurst in November 2021. He has lived and taught in Cranleigh since 2010, and has two children who attend school in the local area. He is currently Head of Classics at Cranleigh School, where he has held a variety of roles in professional and curriculum development as well as university guidance and sports coaching. He is a keen hockey player and a talentless but enthusiastic footballer and runner. He believes firmly in education for all as well as education of the whole child, and is excited about the chance to contribute to the warm community at Ewhurst.

Paul Gunner 

Paul started as a Governor at Ewhurst C of E school in November 2024.  He has lived with his family in Ewhurst for 5 years and locally for many years before that and has two children currently at school in Cranleigh. 

He has worked in various roles in the financial services industry and as a qualified accountant hopes to bring his finance experience to Ewhurst school to help it grow and prosper.  Paul was until recently a coach at Ewhurst junior football club and enjoys mountain biking locally.  He is currently the trustee treasurer at Wheels for All, a national inclusive cycling charity.

Matt Simpson

Matt started as a Governor in November 2023 and currently has one child in the school, he has recently been appointed as Assistant Principal at Godalming College having previously worked at Collyer’s College in Horsham, spanning a 17-year career in education. Matt’s main educational specialities are in Safeguarding and Pupil Engagement and prior to his pastoral roles was a Head of PE. Outside of work he is a keen golfer having retired from semi-professional football and cricket, he is hoping to bring his experience of sport and pastoral responsibilities to Ewhurst to continue the schools work as a happy place for young people to learn.

Tim Cheesman - Executive Headteacher

Tim is the executive headteacher for Ewhurst Infant School and also leads Wonersh and Shamley Green Primary School.  He has over 25 years of teaching experience and has been a school leader for over 10 years.  Tim is passionate about working collaboratively with staff and governors so that everyone can learn and grow together.  He is a keen footballer and enjoys spending time with his family..

Verity Allan - Staff Governor

Verity was very excited to start as the staff governor in November 2023. Verity joined Ewhurst school in September 2023, as the teacher for our Reception class. She has been teaching Reception children for 14 years. Prior to joining Ewhurst school, Verity was an Early Years Leader at a large academy in Surrey and had also taught Reception children at a school in Woking. Verity loves teaching and working within Early Years, as she finds it a very rewarding privilege. She says it’s always amazing to see how the children flourish and progress from their start in September to their transition into Year 1.  

Verity loves travelling and has been fortunate enough to live in Dallas, Texas when she was 6 years old. She went to Elementary school there for 2 years. Whilst completing her teacher training at University, she was asked to complete a placement at a school which didn’t teach the National Curriculum. She therefore returned to her Elementary school where her teacher was still working. She remembered her as the little girl who always came into school with big bunches in her hair, Laura Ashely dresses, white socks and black patent shoes.  

When Verity first visited Ewhurst school, she immediately knew that she wanted to be part of it’s warm welcoming community. She is eager to help support the future development of the school and seeing all children being the best that they can be, whilst being provided with a safe, inclusive and fun environment.  

Lorna Harnby - Clerk

Lorna joined as Clerk to the Governors in December 2023. She has considerable local educational governance experience, having worked for the Board of Trustees at Radius Trust at Grafham Grange, Bramley and as Clerk to the Governors at Parkmead, Cranleigh. She was also Company Secretary for The National Garden Scheme which has its headquarters at Hatchlands Park, East Clandon. 

Please click here to see our constitution 2024-25.

To see the register of interest 2024-25 please click here

Please click here to see the Attendance Record 2023-24

May 2024

Click here for the latest announcement regarding Headship

March 2023

Click here for the announcement of a new Chair of Governor

June 2022

Click here for the announcement of a new Headteacher